By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN who fell asleep at the wheel of his vehicle late one morning and caused a truck to roll over on the Monash Freeway has escaped conviction.
A court was told the accused was driving on the freeway in Dandenong about 11am on 13 January when he fell asleep and struck the truck from behind.
The victim lost control of their vehicle, which rolled on its side and sustained “substantial damage”, police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Glenn Horman told the court.
The victim was taken to Dandenong Hospital for observation.
The man told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Monday 28 September that he had been working night shifts as a baker at the time but had not felt sleepy at the time.
He told the court he’d since given up night shifts and was studying to become an auto mechanic.
The accused, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to careless driving and was put on a 12-month good-behaviour bond.
He was ordered to enrol in a road trauma awareness seminar.
“You’re lucky you’re here,” magistrate Jack Vandersteen told the accused.
“So too the truck driver.”
